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Homecare For Your Curls

Taking care of your curls at home is essential to keep the hair healthy, bouncy, beautiful and voluminous. We teamed up with one of our curl specialists here at Salon San Carlos to give you tips on how to care for your gorgeous locks at home.

How Often Should I Clean My Curly Hair?

Go as long as possible without shampooing your curly hair. Your curl type determines how often you should be shampooing your hair. While loose curls can be shampooed more often, tighter curls should shampoo less (2-3 times per week).

When shampooing focus mainly on your scalp. Massage your scalp and then rinse through mid-shaft to ends.

We recommend using a Ouidad cleanser such as the Nourishing Cleansing Oil, PlayCurl Volumizing shampoo or the Curl Quencher Shampoo, depending on your hair needs.

Do My Curls Need Conditioner?

Curls need moisture. Ask a curl specialist to find out which is the right conditioner for your curl type. For loose curls, a light-weight conditioner is great (Ouidad Playcurl Volumizing Conditioner). Tighter curls require a lot more moisture so use something very hydrating such as the Ouidad Curl Quencher Conditioner.

Always apply conditioner mid-shafts to ends. If hair is tangled, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.

Rinse it out with cold water to lessen the frizz and seal the cuticle. Make sure to leave a little bit of conditioner in your hair (hair should have a slip to it).

Avoid using conditioner on your scalp as it will weigh down your curls (especially if you have loose or classic curls!).

Why Your Curls Need Priming Before Styling

Once you have rinsed and lightly towel blotted your hair (a microfiber towel or a T-shirt works best), apply a primer to get your curls ready for styling (leave-in conditioner such as Ouidad Whipped Curls, Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Conditioner, etc.) pressing it into ends first, then taking up to the mid-shaft of your hair.

Lightly pat any excess conditioner through top and hairline.

Styling Curly Hair

Begin applying your favorite styling cream or gel. This will seal in the moisture, define curls and give longevity to your style.

Apply your product in sections from scalp to ends. Smaller sections give the best coverage to maximize definition and style duration.

The Best Way to Dry Curls

There are several ways and techniques to properly dry your hair. It all comes down to your personal needs and preference. Whichever method you choose, make sure you don’t touch your hair until it is completely dry to minimize frizz.

Air Dry

Blot your hair using a t-shirt or a microfiber towel to get some of the moisture out, then you are good to go!

Diffuse

Start diffusing your curls with your head tilted to one side then switch to the other side. Avoid diffusing with high heat. Cup the curls from ends spiraling up to the scalp holding each section 5-10 seconds moving around the head. To create more volume, flip your head upside down when hair is partially dry and diffuse at the scalp. Pro tip: insert duckbill clips at the roots to lift the hair and give it more volume.

Plopping

Use a t-shirt or a microfiber towel to plop your hair and let it dry! This will help lift the hair away from scalp, define curls, speed up drying time and minimize frizz.

Finishing Up

Once your hair is FULLY dry, break up the gel cast using a serum or oil (if using a gel). To soften gel-- yet still maintaining curl definition, gather all hair into ponytail, lightly twist and release curls.